MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope you all have had a wonderful day filled with love and happiness. My boys and I had a fabulous day which involved game-playing, craft-creating, naughty-food-eating, movie-watching, super-snuggling and vicious present-opening. This season has been totally nuts, but I have felt so grateful today. We have much to be thankful for!

This past weekend we got together with my beautiful sisters and their families to celebrate Christmas and I brought this delicious chocolate cake for us to enjoy. I'll be honest. Chocolate cake has always intimidated me. Out of fear of being too difficult to tackle, I have put off making it for years and now I feel foolish because it was SO EASY! And sooooo much easier to eat. Yum yum yummy yum yum.

Did you ever dream that a chocolate layer cake could be made in less than an hour? It's true.

Be sure to frost this cake with the most delicious Chocolate Buttercream Frosting you will ever taste. It took me a few batches to get it JUST right....and it is so right.

This cake is perfect ANY time of year and for any occasion. Please try it. You will not be disappointed.

Chocolate Layer Cake

Do NOT let this cake intimidate you. It is EASY to make, I promise! It's the only chocolate cake recipe you'll ever want or need.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two round 8- or 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.

Add buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla to bowl and mix until creamy. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centers come out clean. Let cool.

Using a long, serrated knife, cut the rounded part of ONLY ONE of the cakes off, making the top side flat. Place in the center of a serving plate and cover top and sides with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Top with the remaining cake and cover totally with frosting. Cut into slices and serve.